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402. Pastoral Wealth

From: Manners and Customs of the Bible By: James M. Freeman

• 1 min. read • grade level: 10

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Job 1:3³His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. (Job 1:3). His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses.

Among people of pastoral and nomadic habits it is natural to estimate wealth, not by houses and lands, but by the number of animals owned.

Abram was very rich in cattle (Gen. 13:2²And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. (Genesis 13:2)). Lot had flocks and herds (Gen. 13:5⁵And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. (Genesis 13:5)). See also Genesis 24:35³⁵And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. (Genesis 24:35). Job’s wealth, on the return of his prosperity, was estimated in like manner. See Job 42:12¹²So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. (Job 42:12). Special mention is made of she-asses because they were more highly valued than the males on account of their milk, a nourishing drink. To this day the riches of the Bedawin are reckoned by the number and quality of their cattle.

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Manners and Customs of the Bible

• 390. Feasts for the Women

• 391. Chamberlains

• 392. The Royal Harem

• 393. Tebeth

• 394. The Persian Queen

• 395. Etiquette of the Persian Court

• 396. Feasting With the King

• 397. Royal Honors Given to a Subject

• 398. Sign of Royal Displeasure

• 399. The Face Covered

• 401. The Feast of Purim

• 402. Pastoral Wealth

• 403. The Value of Life

• 404. Grain and Thorns

• 405. Poisoned Arrows

• 406. Shadows

• 407. Primitive Mail Carriers

• 408. Supposed Virtues of Snow Water

• 409. Robbers

• 410. Bosses

• 411. Frail Houses

• 412. Light and Darkness as Emblems

• 413. The Net in Combat

• 414. Books Tablets Monuments

• 415. Houses of Clay

• 416. Worms Feeding on the Body

• 417. Raiment as Wealth

• 418. Stone Oil Presses

• 419. Eating Alone